Boot for in-line skate

ABSTRACT

An in-line skate includes a boot, a frame attached to the bottom of the boot, four wheels attached to the bottom of the frame and a pad attached to the bottom of the frame after the wheels. The boot includes a plurality of tension straps merged therewith on a side and a plurality of buckles merged therewith on another side for engagement with the tension straps.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an in-line skate and more particularly to a boot for an in-line skate.

2. Related Prior Art

Disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,771, an in-line skate 10 includes a boot 12 installed on a frame 14. For rolling, four wheels 16 are attached to the frame 14. For braking, a pad 18 is attached to the frame 14 after the wheels 16. With rivets, two strap/buckles 97 and 98 are attached to the boot 12 on a side. With rivets, two release fasteners 102 and 96 are attached to the boot 12 on another side. As the rivets are used, apertures are made in the boot 12, strap/buckles 97 and 98 and release fasteners 102 and 96. The apertures degrade the strength of the boot 12, strap/buckles 97 and 98 and release fasteners 102 and 96. Moreover, the rivets wear away the boot 11, strap/buckles 97 and 98 and release fasteners 102 and 96. Furthermore, the rivets rub against a skater's feet. This is uncomfortable. In some cases, the rivets hurt the skater's feet. In addition, it takes quite some time to use the rivets to attach the strap/buckles 97 and 98 and release fasteners 102 and 96 to the boot 12. The use of the rivets is a bottleneck in the process for making the boot and increases the cost. Moreover, if a single rivet is used in a wrong position, the entire boot 12 must be disposed of. This entails a poor yield and increases the cost.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, an in-line skate includes a boot, a frame attached to the bottom of the boot, four wheels attached to the bottom of the frame and a pad attached to the bottom of the frame after the wheels. The boot includes a plurality of tension straps merged therewith on a side and a plurality of buckles merged therewith on another side for engagement with the tension straps.

An advantage of the boot for an in-line skate according to the present invention is its low cost.

Another advantage of the boot for an in-line skate according to the present invention is its strength.

Still another advantage of the boot for an in-line skate according to the present invention is its durability.

Other advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description referring to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an in-line skate equipped with a boot according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the boot shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but shows the boot in a different position.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway of the boot shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an in-line skate 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The in-line skate 10 includes a boot 12, a frame 14 attached to the bottom of the boot 12, four wheels 16 attached to the bottom of the frame 14 and a pad is attached to the bottom of the frame 14 trailing the wheels 16. The boot 12 is made of plastics.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, three tension straps 20 are extended from the boot 12. Each of the tension straps 20 includes a root (not numbered) merged with the boot 12 and a tip 22 free from the boot 12. Each of the straps 20 defines a plurality of apertures 24.

Three buckles 26 are formed on the boot 12. Each of the buckles 26 includes a plurality of studs 28.

To wear the in-line skate 10, a skater puts a lining (not shown) in the boot 12. The skater puts a foot in the lining, inserts the tension straps 20 in the buckles 26, and fits the studs 28 of each of the buckles 26 in an identical number of the apertures 24 of one of the tension straps 20.

The boot 12 exhibits several advantages over the conventional boot discussed in the Related Prior Art.

Firstly, the boot 12, the tension straps 20 and the buckles 26 are robust since no apertures are made in them for rivets.

Secondly, the boot 12, the tension straps 20 and the buckles 26 are durable for not being worn away by rivets.

Thirdly, the interior of the boot 12 is smooth and provides a nice feel for a skater's foot.

Fourthly, it is inexpensive for the tension straps 20 and the buckles 26 are merged with the boot 12, saving the time and cost for using rivets.

Fifthly, the yield of the fabrication of the boot 12 is high without the use of rivets that often goes wrong.

The present invention has been described via detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A boot for an in-line skate, the boot comprising a sheet having a first side and a second side opposite from the first side; a plurality of tension straps merged on the first side without rivets; and a plurality of buckles merged on the second side without rivets, with the plurality of buckles for engagement with the tension straps so that the boot is made at a low cost and with a smooth interior for providing a nice feel to a skater's foot.
 2. The boot according to claim 1 wherein each of the tension straps defines a plurality of apertures, wherein each of the buckles includes a plurality of studs for fitting in a corresponding number of the apertures of one of the tension straps.
 3. The boot according to claim 1 wherein the sheet is made of plastics. 